Air conditioned pluggable unit assembly



Oct. 27, 1959 a. H- MATTESON ETAL 2,910,627

AIR CONDITIONED PLUGGABLE UNIT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 00 0000 o 000 0 d 0 o o 0 Filed Jan. 5, 1955 INVENTORS BENJAMIN H MATTESON WILLIAM F HUGHES WILLIAM H AYER BY W M ATTORNEY FIG. 3

Oct. 27, 1959 B. H. MATTESON ETAL 2,910,627

AIR CONDITIONED PLUGGABLE UNIT ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTORS BENJAMIN HVMATTESON WILLIAM F HUGHES WILLIAM H. AYER BY Raw; 0". JZQ K I @EE 2% ATTORNEY United States Patent O AIR CONDITIONED PLUGGABLE UNIT ASSEMBLY Benjamin H. Matteson, New Paltz, and William F.

Hughes, Wappingers Falls, N.Y., and William H. Ayer,

North Scituate, Mass, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Research Corporation, New York, N.Y.,

a corporation of New York Application January 5, 1955, Serial No. 479,946 8 Claims. (Cl. 317-100) The present invention relates in general to a housing assembly for electric circuits and components, and more particularly to a housing assembly composed of pluggable units which are constructed and positioned to aid in cooling the components.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pluggable unit assembly which employs conductors and circuit components fixed to cards which are mounted edgewise to permit a vertical flow of conditioned air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pluggable unit assembly wherein heat-producing elements are thermally isolated from heat-sensitive elements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved module for electrical equipment wherein pluggable units are arranged so that a substantially constant temperature is maintained by a cooling medium passing from heat-sensitive circuit elements to heat-producing elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pluggable unit assembly employing circuits mounted on cards, connectors, wiring and circuit elements arranged in an air chamber from which conditioned air escapes through holes adjacent vacuum tubes mounted on the face of individual pluggable units.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pluggable unit assembly wherein a plurality of individual pluggable units, removably secured to a main frame, co-act with the main frame to form an airtight joint therewith.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pluggable unit assembly wherein an individual pluggable unit has a plurality of removably mounted cards having conductors and circuit components mounted thereon.

Other objects of the invention are pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an illustration of a module in which pluggable units are removably supported and through which cooling air is directed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pluggable unit adapted to be received within the module of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the pluggable unit shown in Fig. 2 with circuit components and wiring connections added.

Fig. 4 illustrates in detail an air escape aperture around one of the vacuum tube sockets of the pluggable unit assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing contact elements.

Reference is made to Fig. 1 for a discussion of an air conditioned module 1 constructed according to the principles of the present invention. This module 1, mounted over an air duct 2, is illustrated with a pluggable unit 3 inserted, therein and with guide members 4 secured to the inner side walls of the module for guiding and supporting other pluggable units. As explained more fully hereinafter, members 7 are attached to the rear side of ice the module and carry contact elements 8 adapted to receive contacts 9 (Fig. 3) located on the back sides of the pluggable units. At the front of the module are openings 10 through which the pluggable units are inserted until they co-act with the edges of the openings to form airtight joints. Mounted on top of the module is a plate 11 having slots 12 slidably receiving screws 13 threadedly engaging the top surface. Formed in the plate 11 is an opening 14 coacting with an opening 15 in the module to permit the escape of air from the latter. The plate may be adjusted to permit the desired escape of air and then the screws are tightened for holding the plate in place.

Conditioned air under pressure flows from the air duct 2 into the module 1 and upwardly through the various pluggable units. As the air passes through the pluggable units, some of it escapes through openings 17 surrounding vacuum tubes 18 and the rest escapes through the openings 14 and 15 at the top of the module. Several modules may be mounted over a single air duct where a large installation is to be cooled. The escape route of conditioned air past the vacuum tubes in the individual pluggable units is described more fully hereinafter.

Reference is made to Figs. 2 and 3 for a description of the type of individual pluggable units employed. Each of these units comprises side frame members 20 and 21 interconnected with a front frame member 22 and a rear frame member 23 to form a rectangular frame. The

front frame member 22 has wing sections 24 and 25 bent at a angle toward the front and interconnected by a tubular member 26 that adds rigidity to the structure and serves as a handle.

A plurality of insulation members, such as member 28, with sufficient electrical contacts 9 having soldering lug portions 29 thereon to satisfy the demand for circuit interconnections, are secured within slots in the rear frame member 23. A notched member 31 has bracket portions 32 which are attached to the rear frame member 23 so as to support the notched member in a plane just in front of the lug portions 29. The ends of the notched member 31 are secured by suitable means, not shown, to the side frame members 20 and 21.

Spaced a short distance below the front frame member 22, as shown in Fig. 3, is a plate 34 having openings which receive sockets 35 for the vacuum tubes 18. Fixed to each of the sockets is an annular member 36 having a flange which is secured to the plate 34 by screws 38. The ends of the plate 34 are attached, as by welding, to the end frame members 20, 21, and the front frame member 22 is clamped against the ends of the members 20, 21 by bolts 40 engaging the member 22 and the plate 34.

The sides of the plate 34 are bent downwardly to increase its strength and to provide flanges 41 to which integral arm portions 42 of notched members 43 may be secured by screws 44. There are shown three notched members 43 attached to each flange on the plate 34 but there may be more or less of these members, if desired. The members 43 are arranged in parallel, as shown, with the notches facing inwardly.

Cards 46 carrying conductors 47 (Fig. 3) and circuit elements 48 have notches at one end engaging notches in the member 31. The corner portions of the card at the opposite end are cut away to form tongue-shaped portions 49 which extend between the members 43 with their edges fitting into the notches of these members. The cards are supported by the notched members with their transverse axes parallel to the side frame members and their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the front frame member 22. To remove any one of the cards, it is only necessary to remove one of the notched members 43 engaging it and lift the card out of the frame after any circuit connections to it have been disconnected,

Theopenings 17 referred to above are formed in the front frame member 22 in axial alignment with the tube sockets 35. These openings provide substantial clearance around the tubes, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit air to escape from the interior of the module outwardly past the tubes. Arranged around the edges of the openings are rubber grommets 52. which act as cushions to protect the tubes against jarring when being inserted. These grommets may also be made with different radial dimensions so that the size of the openings 17 may be regulated to increase or decrease the flow of cooling air. To insure that no air escapes around the edges of the front frame member 22 when the pluggable unit is inserted within the module, a rubber gasket 53 is attached around the inner edge of the member 22 as shown in Fig. 3. This gasket engages the surface around the opening it) in the module and provides a seal when the pluggable unit is in its proper position.

When a pluggable unit is first inserted into a module the contacts 9 are located at one side of the contact elements 8. The unit is then moved transversely to effect an engagement between the contacts 9 and the elements 8 and, at the same time, cause the unit to be locked in place. To shift the unit transversely, there is provided a cam 55 (Fig. 3) fixed to one end of a shaft 56 which extends outwardly through the frame members 22, 23 and is provided with a handle 57 at its outer end. The cam is engageable with a projection, 68, on the rear wall of the module and causes the pluggable unit to move to the right in Fig. 1 when the shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction. Formed upon the frame member 23 are hookshaped projections (Fig. 2) engageable with projecting portions, 69, on the rear wall of the module for locking the pluggable unit in place when it is cammed transversely.

The lug portions 29 of the contacts 9 and the terminals 60 of the tube sockets 35 may be connected by conductors, not shown, to the circuit components 48 or to the conductors 47 on the plate as desired.

It will be seen that by this invention there is provided a compact module in which an emcient cooling of circuit components is obtained. Pluggable units may be easily removed to repair circuits or to remove components. The flow of cooling air is such that it passes first over the heat-sensitive elements and some passes over the heatgenerating elements and the rest escapes through the opening at the top of the module. The vacuum tubes are supported in positions where they may be easily inspected and removed for testing when desired.

While there are shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it is understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioned assembly comprising a module, pluggable units having front and rear portions, said rear portions having mounted thereon heat-sensitive electrical elements, said front portions being adapted to receive and support heat-producing electrical elements, said pluggable units being removably mounted in said module with said heat-sensitive elements contained within said module and said heat-producing elements projecting externally from said module, and means for causing cooling medium to flow through said module and outwardly past said heatproducing elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where n each pluggable unit has a plurality of detachably mounted cards, said heat-sensitive elements being mounted on said cards and said cards being supported with their transverse axes lying in planes parallel to the direction of flow of said cooling medium when said pluggable units are mounted within said module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said front portion of each pluggable unit has a plurality of apertures therein for permitting the cooling medium to be discharged from said module past said heat-producing elements.

4. A pluggable unit assembly comprising a rectangular base frame having front, rear and side frame members, said front frame member having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of multi-notched members, means supporting a pair of said notched members in parallel relationship with each other at a uniform distance from said front frame member, means supporting another of said notched members parallel and adjacent to said rear frame member, a plurality of cards for supporting electrical cir-' cuits and components, each card having a notch in one end and a projecting portion of reduced width at its othef end, the projecting card portion being received within notches in said pair of notched members and the notched portion of said card being received within a notch in said other notched member, said notched members supporting said cards with their longitudinal axes substantially at right angles to said front frame member and their transverse axes substantially parallel to said side frame members, and means for directing cooling medium about said cards and through said apertures.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a plurality of vacuum tube sockets, means supporting said sockets adjacent said front frame member whereby vacuum tubes mounted in said sockets project outwardly from said front frame member and are subjected to the cooling medium flowing through said apertures.

6. An air conditioned module for electrical apparatus comprising a main frame with an outer casing having a top, back and sides, means for supplying air upwardly through the lower end of said casing, a plurality of plugga-- ble units comprising heat-sensitive electric components, support means mounted in said main frame for receiving said pluggable units, said pluggable units being removably mounted in said main frame and engageable with the latter at its front to form airtight joints therewith, a plurality of sockets supported by said pluggable units and adapted to receive vacuum tubes, and openings formed in said pluggable units adjacent said sockets for permitting the escape of air past said vacuum tubes.

7. A pluggable unit assembly comprising a rectangular base frame, a plurality of notched members, means mounting said notched members on said base frame with at least one of the members being removable from the frame, said notched members lying in planes essentially parallel to each other and to two opposite sides of the frame, a plurality of cards for supporting electrical components,

said cards mounted within said notched members, said' cards having edges engaging the notches in said members and supported thereby at each end in spaced parallel'relation, each of said notched members engaging a plurality of said cards whereby the removal of one of said notched members releases said cards for removal of selected ones thereof, and means for providing electrical connection to the electrical components on said cards.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein one side of said base frame has a section at each end bent outwardly at right angles to said frame, a cross bar connecting said sections whereby said cross bar and sections strengthen said pluggable unit and provide a handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,160 Wilson Apr. 13, 1937 2,158,868 Stacy May 16, 1939 2,171,643 Brenkert Sept. 5, 1939 2,412,989 Kotterman Dec. 24, 1946 2,471,011 Shapiro May 24, 1949 2,579,141 Eckert Dec. 18, 1951- 2,760,122 Harris Aug. 21, 1956 2,764,713 Alden -c Sept. 255-1956 

